Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-09

dimmed pane 1t was no illusion! The
whole landscape, so familiar to her, was
one vast field of dead, cOlorless white!
Trees, rocks, even distance itself, had
vanished in those few hours. An even,
shadowless, motionless white sea filled the
horizon. On either side q vast wall Oh
snow seemed to shut out the world like a
shroud. Only the green plateau before
her, with its sloping meadows and frlnges
of pines and cottonwood, lay alone like a
summer island in this frozen sea-
Asudden desire to view this phenomenon
more closely, and to learn for herself the
limits of this new tethered life, completely
possessed her, and, accustomed to act upon
her independent impulses, she seized a
hooded waterproof cloak and slipped out
of the house unperceived. The rain was
falling steadily along the descending trail
where she walked, but beyond, scarcely a
mile across the chasm, the wintry distance
began to confuse her brain with the mex
tricable swarming of snow. hurrylng
down with feverish excitement, shea last
J came in sight of the arching granite portals
of their domain. But her first glance
through the gateway showed it closed as II
with white portcullis. Kate remembered
that the trail began to ascend beyond the
arch, and knew that what she saw was
only the mountain side she had partly
climbed this morning. But the snow had
crept down its flank, and the exit by trail
was practically closed. Breathlessly max
ing her way back to the highest part oil the
plateau-the cliff behind the house that
here descended abruptly to the rain
dimmed valley-she gazed at the dizzy
depths in vain for some undiscovered or
forgotten trail along its face. But a single
glance convinced her of its inaccesslbillty.
The gateway was indeed their only outlet
to the plain below. She looked back at
the falling snow beyond until she fancied
she could see in the crossing and recrossing
lines the moving meshes of q fatetul web
woven around them by viewless but mex
orable fingers.
Half frightened, she was turning away,
when she perceived, a few PAGES distant,
the figure of the stranger, Ned, " also ap-
parently absorbed in the gloomy prospect.
He was wrapped in the clinging folds OF a
black serape braided with silver; the broad
flap of a slOuched hat beaten back by the
wind exposed the dark, glistening curls on
his white forehead. He was certainly
very handsome and picturesque, and that
apparently without effort or consciousness
Neither was there anything in his custume
or ~appearance inconsistent with his sur
roundings, or even with what Kate could
Judge were his habits or position. Never
theless she instantly decided that he was
too handsome and too picturesqe, with
out suspecting that her ideas OF the limits
of masculine beauty were merely personal
experience.
As he turned away from the cliff they
were brought face to face. ut doesn't
look very encouraging over there, " he said,
quietly, as if the ~inevitableness of the
situation had relieved him of his previous
shyness and effort; ''it's even worse than
I expected. The now must have begun
there last night, and it looks as if it ment
to stay" He stopped for a moment, and
then, lifting his eyes to her, said: II sup
pose You know what this means?"
81 don't understand you"
al thought not. Well! it means that
you are absolutely cut off here from any
communication or intercourse with any
one outside of that canyon. BY this time
the snow is five feet deep over the only
trail by which one can pass in and ont OF
that gateway. / am not alarming you, !
hone, for there is no real physical danger;
a place like this ought to be well garrison
ed. and certainly is self-supporting 80 far
as the mere necessities and even comforts
are concerned. You have wood, water,
cattle and game at your command, hut for
two weeks at least you are completely
isolated"
"For two week" said Kate, gwOwing
pale-''and my brother?"
"He knows all by this time and is prob
ably as assured as l am of the safety of his
family"
"For two weeks" continued Kate, sim
possible! You don't know my brother!
He will find some way to get to us"
81 hope So" returned the stranger,
gravely, "for what is possible for him is
possible for u.s."
Then you are anxious to get away"
Kate could not help saying.
every"
The reply was not discOurteOus in man.
ner, but was so far from gallant that Kate
felt a new and inconsistent resentment.
Before she could say anything he added,
"And | hope you will remember, whatever
NAV happen, that l did my best to avoid
staying here longer than was necessary to
keep my friend from bleeding to death in
the road"
Certainly" said Kate; then added
awkwardly, 81 hope he'll be better soon. "
She was silent, and then, quickening pace,
said hurriedly, II must tell my sister this
dreadful news"
think she is prepared for it. If there
is anything | can do TO help you | hope
you will let me know. Perhaps l may be
of some service. l shall begin by eXplor-
ing the trails tomorrow, for the best
service we can do You possibly is to take
ourselves off; but | can carry a gun, and
the woods are full of game driven from the
mountains. Let me show you something
you may not have noticed"
He stopped and pointed to a small knoll
of sheltered shrubbery and granite on the
opposite mountain, which still remained
black against the surrounding snow. II
seemed to be thickly covered with moving
objects. ''They are wild animals driven
out of the snow said the stranger. That
larger one is a grizsly; there is a panther,
wolves, wildcats, a fox, and some lnoun-
tain goats"
IAN iI-assorted party" said the young
girl.
I'll luck makes them companions.
They are too frightened to hurt one an,
other now"
But they will eat each other later on
said Kate, stealing a glance at her com,
panion.
He lifted his long lashes and met her
eyes. Not on q heaven of refuge"
CHAPTER ".
Kate found her sister, rs the stranger
had intimated, fully prepared. A hasty
inventory of provisions and means of sub,
s~istence showed that they had ample re,
sources for a much longer isolation.
They tell me it is by no means an un-
common case, Kate; somebody over at
somebody's place was showed in for four
weeks, and now it appears that even the
Summit house is not always accessible.
| TOhn Ouuht IN have knnrn ~ yyban he